Overhead carrier system



-June 6, 1939. M, G, RQSENTHAL 2,161,388

Filed Sept. 20, -1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j I i y lu l Nq E Q" u n m MI] N sj m N -w [t t ai Z1?" :u J3 l u OVERHEAD CARRIER. SYSTEM INVENTOR. Nave/s. 6. Raaf/Wm 'ITORN June 6, 1939. M, G, ROSENTHAL 2,161,388

OVERHEAD CARRIER SYSTEM Filed sept, 2o, '1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENT OR. Mark/.5 Pasa/WML Patented June '6, 1939 OVERHEAD CARRIER SYSTEM l Morris G. Rosenthal, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wickliffe, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 20, 1937, Serial No. 164,684

6 Claims.

TheA present invention relates to material handling tram-rail systems having portions thereof provided with a chain or similar power drive for moving carriersI thereon. More particularly, the invention relates to a means for connecting the carriers to the power drive.

In systems of the character referred to, the power drive, which is usually applied to only a part of the system, is operated at a constant 20 as is most often the case.

movement of one or more -Again, if the free of the carriers connected to the drive is interfered with, for any reason, such as insufficient clearance in the aisles through which the carriers or the racks, etc., upon which the load is placed move, or in the event one or more of the wheels of the carrier becomes caught in an improperly thrown switch, serious damage often results.

The purpose of the present invention is to over- 30, ycome the aforesaid and other defects of the prior art tramrail systems and of the present invention is the provision of athe principal object tramrail system of the type referred to, that is, one having` at least a portion thereof provided with a chain drive orsimilar power, for moving carriers thereon, which will be simple in construction, easily maintained and operated, and in which carriers'moved onto the section provided with the drive will be slowly accelerated to the yspeed of 4K0v the ldrive without subjecting the system to serious strain, and in which the carriers will be readily disconnected from the power drive in the event that their free movement is interfered with for any reason.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel device for connecting the cary riers of a tramrail system of the character referred to to a continuously moving chain or similar power drive, which device will gradually ac- 50 celerate a carrier tothe/speed of the power drive without imposing undue strain upon the system, and which will permit the connection between the carrier and the drive to be broken in the event that the free movement of the carrier is inter- 55; `fered with for any reason.

The present invention resides in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic View of an overhead tramrail system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig, 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions it is herein illustrated and described as embodied in an overhead tramrail system of the mono-rail type. For the most part the tramrail system herein referred to is commercially known in the art and only those parts thereof which are necessary to the complete understanding of the present invention will be herein illustrated and described in detail.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows schematicallyaportion of an overhead tramrail system of the monorail type embodying the present invention and comprising a main loop designated generally by the reference character A, a side loop B, and by-pass or branch lines C, and D. The tramrail system shown includes automatic dispatch mechanism, that is mechanism for sending carriers automatically to predetermined stations, but the present invention is equally applicablerto other types of systems. as will be hereinafter' apparent. The main loop A comprises an overhead monorail track or rail I0 supported in any convenient manner as by being suspended from a structural member l l which may be part of the superstructure of the building in which the system is located. The supporting mechanism forms no part of the present invention and is entirely omitted from Fig. l.

The carriers, designated generally by the reference character E, may be of any commercially known construction suitable for the purpose for which they are intended. As shown they comprise a load bar I2 carried. by a pair of trucks,

the wheels I3 of which engage the treads of the track on rail I0, and a rack I4 upon which the material or load is placed. The carriers are adapted to be moved along the track II) of the main loop by driving dogs, designated generally by the reference character F, which engage behind a part of the carrier and push or pull the same along the track. The dogs F form a part of a continuously moving power drive and will be hereinafter more specifically referred to.

The side loop B, for example, may be one of a plurality of stations at which certain operations are performed on articles supported on the carriers E or it may be a station at which the carrier is loaded or unloaded. The branch lines C Yand D may lead to such places as storage, other loops, etc. Carriers are transferred from the main loop A to the side loops, or to the branch lines, etc., through the medium of transfer switches designated generally by the reference character G, which switches may be of any commercially known construction and are not herein illustrated and described in detail. Because the present system is of the automatic dispatch type the switches G, with the exception of the switch designated G leading from the side loop to the mainV loop, are electrically operated and automatically controlled by limit switches I6 and II located at opposite sides of the respective'transfer switches. The actuation of the limit switches is controlled by the carriers moving on the System. 'For the purpose of selecting the particular station or branch line, etc., to which the carriers are dispatched the carriers are provided with fmeans for selectively actuating the limit switch IB located at the approaching side of the transfer switches G. In the present instance this mechanism comprises a tripper arm I8 fixed to the load bar I2 of the carrier and having a plurality of holes therein for the location of a station trip- 'per cam I9 adapted to strike or engage the arm 20 .of the limit switch I6 and thus operate the same. distances from the track Il! to correspond to .different locations of the tripper cam I9 along Nthe tripper Iarm I8. The rack I4 is swivelly connected to the load bary I2 so that the swing of the-carrier as it travels about curves, etc., will not move the tripper cam out of the path of the limit switch arms 20. Y

Assume that the operator located at the station-'for side loop B is finished with the carrier Ef loca-ted therein and wishes to dispatch Vit to some other station, aftersetting the ripper cam I9 in the proper hole to select the desired station or branch line, he operates the manually controlled transfer switch G' and pushes the carrier out onto the main loop, first observing that the ap-lV proaching dog F is unloaded, after which he retur-ns the switch G to its original position.

. Usually the drive is traveling at a fairly fast rate alsodisconnect the carrier from the drive in the i of speed and when the the dog engages the car- Iier, which is stationary, the impact incident thereto subjects the system to considerableV 70 A,means will not only relieveexcess strain due to impact as the drive engages the `carrier but will eventthat the free forward movement of the carrier is interfered with, in other words, in the @event the force required to move. theA carrier Different arms 20 are located at different Y along the track exceeds a predetermined amount. In the embodiment of the invention shown this means comprises the driving dogs F, previously referred to, connected at spaced intervals to the flexible driving element which as shown is a roller chain 22, continuously driven in any convenient manner by a sprocket wheel and an electric motor, not shown. Each of the driving dogs comprises a pawl or ratchet member 25, see Fig. 4, pivotally supported by a pin 26 projecting through aligned apertures in members 21 and 28 welded to a lever comprising spaced upper and lower members 29 and 30. The front end of the ratchet member 25 is formed to engage a portion of the carrier. As shown the ratchet member 25 engages a bracket arm 3I welded or otherwise fixed to the end of the tripper arm opposite to the end thereof which carries the station tripper cam I9. The forward end of the ratchet member 25 is heavier than the other end which causes it to normally assume a positionto engage the bracket arm 3I, that is, the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, but the construction is such that a carrier can be pushed ahead of a clog if desired. In this event the bracket arm3Ion the carrier engages the inclinedV edge X of the ratchet member, raising the ratchet member to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and,

passing freely thereunder. YAfter the bracket arm has cleared the front end of the ratchet member 25 the latter returns to its normal position and is ready to pick up the carrier and carry itabout the system. Y

The forward end of the lever comprising the members 29 and 39 is pivotally connected to one end of a lever comprising upper and lower spaced members 3 3 and 34 and spacer collars 35 and 36 interposed between the latter, through the medium of a pivot pin 3l. The center of the lever comprising the spaced members 33 and 34 is pivotally connected to a frame comprising spaced upper and lower plates 38 and 39 suitably secured together, by means including a long pin 40 fixed to or carried by a truck 4I, the wheels of which are adap-ted to travel along the flanges of a track or rail 42 paralleling the rail or track I 4andsecured to structural members 43 in any convenient manner. The pin 48 projects downwardly from the truck 4I through a link 22 of the iieXible driving element which in the present instance is a roller chain, through a spacer member 45, upper lplate 38, upper member 33, spacer collar 36, lower member 34, lower plate 39, and a guide wheel 46 rotatably secured to the lower end thereof vas by a nut 4l. 'Ihe guide wheel 46 runs between angle arms 48 and 49 connected to the supportingY structure in any suitable manner.

The rear end of the lever comprising the spaced members 29 and 30 is pivotally connected to one end of a lever comprising upper and lower spaced members I] and 5I, and spacer collars 52 interposed between the latter, by a pivot pin 53. l The other end of the lever comprising the spacedy members 5I) and 5I is pivotally connected by a long pin 54 to the frame comprising the spaced plates 38 and 39 ina manner similar to that in which the lever comprising the spaced members 33 and 34 is 'connected to said frame. The pivot pins 40 and 54 are in line with the direction of travel indicated by the arrow y in Figs. l and 3.

The right hand end, as viewed in Fig. 3, of the lever comprising thespaced members 33 `and 34is pivotally -connectedthrough the medium of a pin 55 to one end of a rod 56. Spacer collars 51 positioned about the pin 55 on opposite sides of the rod and; 351,.; The rear endof. the rodf 56- projects through asuitabley aperture iny aidisk-like member 58 slidably supported in av,.tubular vmember 59 klimited adjustment thereof.

pivotally supported between'theplates 31 and-38 by.trunnions6il xedin the wallof` the member 59,v as by being 1 weldedV Ain suitable apertures formed therein.` A nut6 Ithreaded onto the rear, vend ofthe rod lrretains the disk,58 thereon. The forward end 6.2 of the member 59 through which therod 56 projects is closed except for the opening through whichftherod 5B projects. `The member 59 formsahousing for acoil spring G5 interposed between the member 58 and the closed end 162, of the member '592152 The spring 65 may be of any suitable strength and the nut 6I permits Rotation of the lever comprising the members 33 and 34 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 is limited by the engagement of the ends of the pin with the forward edge of the plates 31 and 38 l which are vcut back as clearly shown in Fig. 3 in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the lever is normally at right angles to the direction of travel. Y

From the foregoing description of the dog F it is thought that the operation thereof Vwill be apparent. Sufce it to say that as the ratchet member r25 strikes the bracket arm 3| on a stationary V carrier the former will yield slightly compressing Y due to excessive load on the carrier, etc., the lever comprising the members 29 and 39, to which it is attached, always remains parallel with the direction of movement, but gradually moves toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, that is, in a direction away from the carrier. If the impact is suflicient or if the force r'required to move the carrier exceeds a predetermined amount, the levers which carry the ratchet member 25 Will be moved to a position approximating that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, that is, untilrthe ratchet member 25 slips off of or clears the end of the carrier bracket arm 3l. f

' From the foregoing it will be apparent that the objects of the inventionheretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that a system of the character referred to has been provided in which the carrier pushed onto the Same will be accelerated to the speed of the drive withoutv subjecting thesystem to excessive strain and in which the drive will be readilydisconnected from the carriers in the event the free forward y movement thereof is interfered with for any reason. While the means for accomplishing these results, in the preferred embodiment of the invenf tion shown, is incorporated in the power drive, it

` will be readily apparentthat this means can be tion shown. Itis the intention to cover hereby all adaptation, modification, and alternative constructions yfalling within the spirit and scope of the .present invention, as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a tramrail system of the character referred to, the combination of an overhead track,

a carrier member supported on said track and movable therealong, a flexible driving member paralleling said track,.a driving member carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other of said members, and resilient means for normally maintaining said driving member in operative position and carried by the member which carries the driving member, said driving member being yieldable out of said operative position when the force required to propel said carrier exceeds a predetermined amount. l

2. In a tramrail system of the character referred to, the combination of an overhead track, a carrier supported by said track and movable therealong, a flexible driving element paralleling said track, a driving member pivotally carried by said iiexible driving element and adapted to engage said carrier, and resilient means carried by said flexible driving element for normally maintaining said driving member in operative position, said driving member being yieldable out of said operative position when the force required to propel said carrier exceeds a predetermined amount.

3. In a tramrail system of the character referred to, the combination of an overhead track, a carrier member supported on said track and movable therealong, a flexible driving member paralleling said track, a lever pivotally carried by one of said members, a pawl operatively connected to said lever and adapted to engage the other of said members, and resilient means carried by the same member which carries said lever for normally maintaining said lever in a position normal to the direction of travel of said members, said resilient means permitting said lever to rotate to a position where said pawl no longer engages said other member when the force required to propel said carrier member along said track exceeds a predetermined amount.

4. In a tramrail system of the character referred to, the combination of an overhead track, a carrier member supported on said track and movable therealong, a flexible driving member paralleling said track, a pair of levers pivotally carried by one of said members and connected therewith at spaced points one behind the other, a link connected to the ends of said levers, a pawl carried by said link and adapted to engage the other of said members, resilient means carried by said exible driving member for normally maintaining said levers, in a position normal to the direction of travel of said members, said resilient means permitting said lever to rotate to a position where said pawl no longer engages said other member when the force required to propel said carrier member along said track exceeds a predetermined amount.

5. In a tramrail system of the character referred to, the combination of an overhead track, a carrier supported on said track and movable therealong, a flexible driving element paralleling said track, a pair of levers pivotally carried by said flexible driving element, said levers being connected to said flexible driving element at spaced points and one thereof being located behind the other, a' link connected to the ends of saidlevers, a pawl carried by said link and adapted-'to engage said carrier, resilient means carried byrsai'd'lexible driving element for normally maintaining said levers in a position normal to the direction of travel of said exible driving element While permitting the same to rotate to a position Where said pawl no longer engages-said carrier when the force required tov propel said carrier alongsaid track exceeds arpredetermined amount.

6. In a tramrail system of the character!` referred to, the combination of an overhead track, a carrier supported on said track and movable therealong, a ,exible driving element paralleling said track, a bracket connected to said flexible driving element, a pair of levers pivotallycarried b-y said bracket one behind the other, a link connected to' the ends of said levers, a pawl carried by said link and adaptedto engage said carrier one of said vlevers extending to opposite sides of its pivot, and resilient means connected to said bracket and to the end of said lever remote from said link for normally maintaining Vsaid levers in a position normal tothe direction of said earrier while permitting the same to rotate to a position where' said pawl no longer engages said carrier when the force required to propel said carrier along saidl track exceeds a predetermined amount.

MORRIS G. ROSENTI-IAL. 

